Australia are over-defensive: Laxman

Updated: 30 October 2008 12:49 IST

VVS Laxman said he wondered why Australia were over-defensive in the ongoing series.

Written by Press Trust of India

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New Delhi:

Stylish middle order batsman VVS Laxman on Thursday said he wondered why Australia were over-defensive in the ongoing series considering that it was almost the same team which beat India 2-1 earlier this year.

"They are over-defensive since the start of the series. If you see their captain (Ricky) Ponting is talking only about India while Anil Kumble has been so encouraging as he is speaking about our boys, our batsmen and our bowlers," said Laxman, who posted an unbeaten 200 before India declared their first innings at 613 for 7.

"They've got resources. The team is not different in any way, except for (Adam) Gilchrist (who retired earlier this year) which beat us 2-1 in Australia earlier this year.

"I don't know why they should be defensive," he added.

Australia drew the first Test and lost the second Test by a huge 320-run margin at Mohali while in the on-going crucial third Test as well India are dictating the terms.

Indian pace spearhead Zaheer Khan had also described Ponting and Co. as defensive after the drawn first Test in Bangalore.

"They were very defensive. I have never seen an Australian team play such a defensive cricket," he had said.